AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

In March 2005, Amnesty International received reports that the government of Myanmar (Burma) has increased the prison sentence for Ko Aye Aung. Ko Aye Aung was a second year physics student taking distance education courses at Dagon University in Myanmar in the late 1990s. According to reports, he was a leading member of the all Burma Federation of Student Unions, a group that has been highly involved in organizing anti-government protests since the military regime took power in 1988.

Burma has been ruled under military dictatorship since the early 1960s. In September 1988, the armed forces brutally suppressed a massive pro-democracy movement. Since that time, a military junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has ruled by decree, without a constitution or legislature. The country held relatively open elections in 1990, during which voters overwhelmingly supported the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won more than 60 percent of the popular vote and 80 percent of the parliamentary seats. However, the SPDC has not allowed the elected representatives to convene parliament. The SPDC has conducted a brutal campaign against its opponents, imprisoning politicians, student activists, academics, writers, journalists, lawyers, and trade unionists who have spoken out against the government.

Ko Aye Aung was arrested in September 1998 after participating in a peaceful demonstration for better education policy. He was arrested with the other protesters and tried in a group of 50 students. The closed door trial failed to meet international standards of fairness. In addition, there are reports that he and the other students were beaten at the time of their arrest, and may continue to be tortured while in prison.

While reports are unclear, it appears that the government has extended Ko Aye Aung’s prison sentence to 45 years. He may have also been transferred to a prison far from his home and family. This is especially harsh because in Burma, prisoners must rely on family visits for food and medicine.

(Sources of information for this case is Amnesty International.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Urging the government to release Ko Aye Aung because it appears that he may be detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression;
• Requesting that he receive adequate food and medical care and that he not suffer torture or other ill treatment while in prison; and
• Reminding the government of Myanmar of their responsibility to uphold international standards of human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Senior General Than Shwa
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council
c/o Director of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defense
Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Fax: 011 95 1 229 50
Salutation: Dear General

COPIES SENT TO:

Lt. General Soe Win
Prime Minister
State peace and Development Council
Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Mr. Prime Minister

U Than Aung
Minister of Education
Ministry of Education
Theinbyu Street
Botahtaung Township
Yangon
Union of Myanma
Salutation: The Honorable U Than Aung

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program